whether or not you “fit” comfortably (…we’ve both got really long legs)

what it rides like (…is it REALLY as loud and bumpy as they say?)

whether you like 4wd or not (…you can try some mild offroading, within reason)

what the gas mileage is really like (…if that matters to you)

what it’s like to ride in a convertible (…a Jeep is the ULTIMATE fun-in-the-sun convertible!)

whether the short windshield, placement of mirrors, etc are a problem (…they are awkward to some drivers)

what a different sized lift and clearance feels like (…helps you gauge whether you’d like a similar sized lift on your own Jeep

whether there’s enough cargo space (…to fit your lifestyle)

Renting A Jeep In Gatlinburg

Here are the highlights from our Jeep rental weekend:

Of course, it started pouring rain about 15 minutes after we rented the Jeep! Just our luck, Lynnette & Jim are in Gatlinburg?… Mother Nature gets the signal to drop a load from above!

We were told there was “a bikini top” in the back of the Jeep in case it rained, only we didn’t know how to put it on. Therefore, Lesson #1: Always know your options when it comes to rain, and test out those options beforehand!

Here’s what the inside of our rain-soaked Jeep looked like after we got drenched from head to toe (and roof to floor!), thanks to 20 solid minutes of pouring rain with NO roof — other than a wimpy tree that we tried to gain some shelter under.

Next, we decided to learn how to put the bikini top on.

Here’s Jim attaching the bikini top to the Jeep. It’s a cinch once you get the hang of it.

Then, we decided to try to get lost out on the backcountry mountain roads around Gatlinburg.

Toward the end of the day, we had found a deserted old “Jeep Road”. At this point, we had gone about 7 miles down this narrow, twisty 28-mile 4WD road between North Carolina and Tennessee (poking along at about 10 mph while dodging rocks, stumps, and mud holes!) when we found this.

It had taken us nearly 2 hours to go 7 miles, so we were not looking forward to backtracking this route! Jim thought about going OVER it… or UNDER it… or even MOVING it — after all, this was a 4WD Jeep — but it was no dice.

…Sometime around MIDNIGHT, we eventually made it back to our cabin!

That night and the next morning, here’s where you could find us: in the Jacuzzi!

I like to help people find unique ways to do things in order to save time & money -- so I frequently write about "outside the box" ideas that most wouldn't think of. As a lifelong dog owner, I often share my best tips for living with and training dogs. I worked in Higher Ed several years until switching gears to pursue things I was more passionate about. I've worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo -- to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. You can always find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun websites).